Photojournalist extraordinaire Arthur Fellig aka Weegee earned his fame shooting magnificent, gruesome crime scenes and New York City life of the ’30s and ’40s. In 1947, he relocated to Hollywood, instantly forming a dislike for all things celebrity. He was prolific. He was disdainful. He distorted his paparazzi shot of Marilyn Monroe, turning up her nose into a snout. His shots of crowds at movie premieres echoed his iconic Their First Murder, a photograph of children ravenous for a gawk at a homicide victim. He shot the dream-filled urban landscape, the glitter-smothered aspiring-movie-star go-go dancers, Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes and… Hollywood’s behinds. It was a love-hate kind of fetish.
Before moving back to “civilization” (aka New York City) in 1957, Weegee had amassed quite the zeitgeisty LA oeuvre. Now on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles through February 27, here are some of these artifacts, courtesy of MOCA, the International Center of Photography and the Matthew Marks Gallery of New York.
Weegee, [Marilyn Monroe], ca. 1960, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, The Gold Painted Stripper, ca. 1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, City Hall, Los Angeles, Cal., ca. 1953-55, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Liz, ca. 1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Hollywood Premiere, ca. 1951, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, The Stars Look Down, ca. 1951, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, As Is: Carson Drive & Wilshire Blvd., ca. 1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Beauty Contest, ca. 1953, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, As Is: Hollywood Blvd. & Highland Ave., ca. 1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Virginia Mayo, ca. 1948, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Unidentified Photographer [Weegee photographing mannequins in LA Camera Exchange’s window display], 1951, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Woman Driver, May 25, 1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, [Vampira in Chanel No. 5 perfume bottle], ca. 1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Objet d’art, 1951, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee, Wardrobe dept., ca.1950, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Unidentified Photographer [Weegee among wax heads of celebrities and leaders], 1951, International Center of Photography, Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images
Weegee with Mel Harris, Naked Hollywood, 1955, © Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty Images